WPIAL to crown 2024 boys, girls individual golf champions

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, September 29, 2024 | 2:50 PM

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Boys

Class 3A

Final round

Tuesday, Oakmont Country Club

Defending champion: *Nick Turowski, Penn-Trafford (2-under-par 142)

First-round leader: Carson Kittsley, So., Fox Chapel (1-over 73)

Chip-ins: Last year’s runner-up, senior Connor McKenzie of Upper St. Clair, is in the 42-player field. … Sophomore Michael Quallich of Baldwin, senior Colton Lusk of Peters Township, junior Ravi Desai of North Allegheny and senior William Hilton of Pine-Richland are tied for second after matching first-round 74s at Southpointe Golf Club. … Junior Jack Sacriponte of Latrobe shot a 67 to tie for Section I medalist. Other qualifiers, senior Wes Lorish of Plum (68), junior Colton Holt of Franklin Regional (69) and junior Preston Troiano of North Allegheny (69) also broke 70 in qualifying. … Oakmont also hosted the 2022 Class 2A championship and the 3A finals in 2016 and ’18. … North Allegheny and Seneca Valley have four finalists apiece. … Fox Chapel has the most individual golf titles with seven. … The top 14 finishers advance to the PIAA tournament Oct. 21-22 at Penn State.

Class 2A

Final round

Wednesday, Sewickley Heights Golf Club

Defending champion: *Nixen Erdely, Frazier (even 142)

First-round leader: Logan Crowe, Sr., McGuffey (1-over 73)

Chip-ins: Seniors Landon Mauser of Shady Side Academy and Ethan Dai of Quaker Valley start the day a shot back at 74, and junior Eli Bintrim of Laurel sits fourth at 75. The first round was played a week ago at Youghiogheny Country Club in McKeesport. … Dai was the runner-up last year at Butler Country Club (2-over 144). … Five of the top 10 finishers last year graduated. … Mauser shot a 69 to win the Section 8 title at The Madison Club. … Senior Josh Nesky of South Allegheny shot 69 to win Section 7 by 11 shots at South Park Golf Course. … Sewickley Heights has not hosted a WPIAL boys final since 2013 (2A). The last time the 3A tournament was played there was 2005. … The top 18 finishers qualify for the PIAA tournament Oct. 21-22 at Penn State. … Tee times here.

Girls

Class 3A

Final round

Monday, Butler Country Club

Defending champion: Mya Morgan, So., Elizabeth Forward (2-over 146)

First-round leader: Ellie Benson, Jr., Peters Township (3-over 75)

Chip-ins: Benson closed with a 36 on the back nine at Willowbrook Country Club to take the lead after 18 holes. … Sophomore Siena Smith is second at 78, followed by senior Sophia Severns at 80. Morgan and junior Kayli Dings of North Allegheny are tied for fourth at 81. … Morgan ran away with the title last year, winning by 12 at Diamond Run Golf Club. … Peters Township has four girls in the 29-player field, and Oakland Catholic and Fox Chapel have three apiece. … Morgan, who is trying to become the 13th player to repeat as champion, had the lowest sectional qualifying score with a 71 to take the Section 3 title. … Norwin’s Adalena Robb is a four-time qualifier. Upper St. Clair has the most WPIAL individual (six) and team (17) championships. … Tee times here.

Class 2A

Final round

Monday, Butler Country Club

Defending champion: *Sophia Covelli, Neshannock (30-over 174)

First-round leader: Pearl Lundgren, Jr., Eden Christian (3-over 75)

Chip-ins: This is the smallest field with only 17 girls. … Lundgren was steady in her first round at Willowbrook Country Club, making birdie on the last two holes. … Eden Christian never has had a girls golf champion. … A pair of freshmen are lurking behind Lundgren: last year’s runner-up, in Alyssa Zhang of Shady Side Academy (83) and JoJo Jaskulski of Chartiers-Houston (84). … Zhang shot 71 to win the Section 2 title at Fox Run Golf Course. … The top seven finishers in 3A and top nine in 2A make the state tournament set for Oct. 21-22 at Penn State. … Tee times here.

*graduated

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.